On 4 February 2026, Washington welcomed around forty delegations from Africa and beyond for a Summit on critical minerals, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sent a delegation led by President Félix Tshisekedi, who arrived in the U.S. capital shortly
after signing the Washington agreements two months ago.
The Summit aims to secure strategic mineral supplies, including coltan, cobalt, and lithium, as the U.S. seeks to reduce Chinese dominance in the sector. While the DRC has already signed mineral agreements with Washington, projects such as the sale of the Chemaf copper-cobalt mine in Mutoshi are still
pending, with an American company poised to take over.
Other African countries participating include Guinea, which is seeking U.S. investment in bauxite and iron to diversify away from Chinese influence, and Kenya, whose Mrima Hill region contains rare earth deposits valued at tens of billions of dollars.
Beyond economic discussions, President Tshisekedi is scheduled to attend the 79th National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event promoting reflection and prayer, alongside U.S. officials, parliamentarians, and religious leaders from the DRC, including opposition figures and church representatives supporting
inter-Congolese dialogue.